Con Sampler

Chapter 8 – Meet Up-1

Chapter 8 – Meet Up

After putting my crutches in the trunk, I very gingerly worked my way into the driver’s seat of my car. I didn’t want to show Terri any signs of weakness on my part. I’d play my obvious limp by ear when I got to the park if I had to do any walking in her view. My hope was to avoid it at all and not do any weight bearing.

I pulled out of Morelville onto SR 45. It was a beautiful day and, were it not for my mission; I might actually have enjoyed the drive. I passed several cars headed in the opposite direction coming into the area. They were loaded with people probably planning a weekend in the Blue Rock State Park. I envied them for their coming adventures and for the mobility they likely had to enjoy them.

Mentally, I shook myself then I said out loud, “Stop wallowing in misery!” There I go talking to myself again! I just want to get this over with and get back home...

I glanced in my rearview mirror. A silver Honda Accord was several car lengths behind me. In any place but this one, it would hardly be noticeable but out here, in the land of American made pickups and SUVs, it stuck out like a sore thumb. The car was too far behind me for me to get a good look at the driver or at the license plate. Oh well...probably nothing. I jumped back into my own head.

I worked my way north across country to SR 146 and took that into Zanesville. It was the route I was the most familiar with and it would put me not far from the park. Another quick glance in my rearview mirror showed that the Accord was still behind me, even after the turn onto 146. “Odd, but maybe there are two of us headed into Zanesville from the middle of nowhere.” And there I go again! I really have to stop that!

The Accord kept the same distance from me the entire time. If I slowed, it slowed. If I sped up, it sped up. I was sure I was being followed but I didn’t know why and I sure didn’t like it. I floored it and sped toward Zanesville.

When I reached the outskirts of town, I had a dilemma. I wasn’t that familiar with the area. I only knew one bridge to take to get me across the Muskingum River to the park. Making a quick decision, I made a few quick jukes to drive around a couple of city blocks. If I could lose my suspected tail, I could get on the one bridge that I was familiar with and get to Putnam Hill quickly...hopefully before Terri. The Accord seemed like it was far enough behind me that I could shake it if the driver really was tailing me.

After a quick small loop and then a bigger one to watch for the other car, I was confident I was finally free of it. I crossed the bridge and drove north to the park. My tail seemed to be gone.

The park was a little busier on a summer Friday afternoon than it had been on Monday when Mel and I were there, but it wasn’t packed. I saw that the table where we’d sat on Monday was free and there were few people nearby. It would work for a private discussion in full public view.

I parked and hobbled slowly toward the table, keeping as much of my weight off of my left leg as possible. I realized quickly that I probably should have used my crutches. The 20 yards to the table felt like a thousand by the time I reached it.

Once I was seated and I’d caught my breath, I pulled out my cell phone. There were no new messages from Terri. I noted that the time was now nearly 12:30; about the time we’d seen the Amish girl on Monday. I scanned the walking path for her, but I didn’t see her.

I called Mel’s cell. After the potential tail, I thought it would be wise to clue her in on what I was doing. She didn’t answer. I left a brief message letting her know about the tail and where I was now, but I didn’t say anything more only because I really didn’t know what all to tell her until I heard Terri out.

I felt safe meeting with Terri in a public place even after what had happened on the way over. Me thinking I was being followed was probably just me being silly and thinking crazy thoughts anyway after listening to Terri. Since the park was right in Zanesville, I knew help wouldn’t be too far away if I did have a problem.

––––––––